Local schools say they are still seeing a relatively normal number of law enforcement recruits, despite recent incidents across the nation. Alex Villarreal has the story.

Local schools say they are still seeing a relatively normal number of law enforcement recruits, despite recent incidents across the nation. Alex Villarreal has the story.

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Updated: 8:36 PM EDT Jul 18, 2016

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WEBVTT CERS IN DALLAS AND BATON ROUGE LOCAL SCHOOLS SAY THEY ARE STILL SEEING A GOOD AMOUNT OF NEW RECRUITS. WESH 2'S ALEX VILLARREAL LOOKS AT HOW RECENT TRAGEDIES ARE IMPACTING THOSE WORKING TO PUT ON THE BADGE REPORTER: FROM DALLAS TO BATO ROUGE ATTACKS ON POLICE HIT HOME AT VALENCIA COLLEGE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE, WHERE RECRUITS TRAIN FOR CAREERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> THERE IS A CONCERN BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO DO AND I WILL TACKLE IT HEAD ON VALENCIA HAD 235 RECRUITS IN ITS 2014 LAW ENFORCEMENT CLASSES. LAST YEAR, A SLIGHT DROP TO 20 BUT SO FAR THIS YEAR, THEY'RE UP TO 174, WITH ONE MORE CLASS OF RECRUITS TO GO. ENROLLMENT'S BEEN VERY STRONG IT CONTINUES TO BE VERY STRON WE TRY TO START EACH CLASS WIT 50 RECRUITS AND WE'RE HAVING NO PROBLEMS FILLING THOSE CLASSES AT THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF' OFFICE, WHICH SPONSORS SOME OF THE VALENCIA RECRUITS, EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS ROSE IN BOTH 2014 AND 2015 BUT RECRUITMENT MANAGER MARY ANN SALAZAR SAYS NOT KNOWING WHETH YOU'LL MAKE IT HOME EACH DAY IS A PART OF THE JOB RECENT EVENTS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY MORE OF A HEIGHTENED SENSE FOR THEM THAT THEY'VE REALLY GOT TO THI ABOUT THIS DECISION. WHENEVER A LAW ENFORCEME OFFICER IS KILLED ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE LINE OF DUTY, THE RECRUITS HONOR THAT FALLEN COMRADE'S SACRIFICE, LINING UP IN THIS HALL AS AN INSTRUCTOR RINGS THIS BELL 3 TIMES. THE WAY WE KIND OF HANDLE THIS GRIEF AND TRAGEDY, IT'S LIKE A FAMILY HANDLES I >> YOU HAVE YOUR TIMES WHERE YOU TALK ABOUT AND YOU MOURN OVER THE SADNESS, BUT YOU FIND TH POSITIVES THAT CAN COME OUT OF THIS WE ARE HERE, I AM HERE TO SERVE AND YES THERE IS A SACRIFICE

Police recruitment numbers grow despite recent tragedies

Local schools say they are still seeing a relatively normal number of law enforcement recruits, despite recent incidents across the nation. Alex Villarreal has the story.